For the first time since Kyrie Irving's trade request became public, Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry spoke about the issue, saying he was surprised by the demands of the Cleveland Cavaliers point guard. In a report by the Associated Press, Curry said he wasn't aware of the swirling rumors surrounding Irving’s trade demand but he said the issue is part of the business. However, Curry refused to further comment on the matter, saying that Irving is currently with the Cavaliers and he will talk about it more when something happens.
According to reports, Irving approached team owner Dan Gilbert and requested a trade, saying he wants to emerge as the No.
1 option of a team and not play second fiddle to James, who rejoined the team in 2014. Irving also gave the Cavaliers a short list of possible landing spots – the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and the Miami Heat. However, more than one month has passed and Irving remains with the Cavaliers due to a lack of attractive offers. The Cavaliers want a win-now veteran, a blue-chip young player and a top draft pick for Irving.
Warriors improved this offseason
The Warriors showed their superiority over the Cavs by beating them in five games in the NBA Finals. The Cavs were expected to beef up their roster in the offseason in order to compete with the Warriors’ superior lineup next season.
However, the Cavs failed to make noise in the free agent market, acquiring Jeff Green and Jose Calderon and re-signing Kyle Korver and Richard Jefferson to fresh deals.
The Warriors, for their part, kept the corps of their championship team, signing sixth man Andre Iguodala to a three-year, $48 million deal and Shaun Livingston to a three-year contract worth $24 million.
They also signed reserves Zaza Pachulia, David West and JaVale McGee to veteran minimum deals, and added Nick Young and Omri Casspi.
Curry signed league’s first supermax deal
Curry, for his part, signed the league’s first supermax contract – a five-year deal worth $201 million. The contract gives Curry the salary increase that he deserves as the leader of the two-time NBA champion Warriors.
Last season, he made just $12 million on the last year of his four-year deal worth $44 million. Kevin Durant, for his part, gave up $9 million to help the Warriors sign key players instrumental in their title run. Durant signed a two-year deal worth $53 million in the offseason.
